Seven weeks after Mariya Gabriel stepped down from her post in the College of Commissioners to become Bulgaria’s Alternate Prime Minister under a new coalition agreement, the EU is about to welcome a new Culture chief. On Wednesday 28 June, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has picked Iliana Ivanova as the next Commissioner-designated from Bulgaria. She will oversee the same portfolio as Mariya Gabriel, i.e. Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
Hailing from the center-right GERB party, Iliana Ivanova has been a member of the European Court of Auditors since 2013. Beforehand, she was a former member of the European Parliament (between 2009 and 2012). During her term in the Parliament she was a vice chair of the Committee on budgetary control.
As von der Leyen stated yesterday, “her experience is crucial in carrying forward the implementation of the EU’s flagship research programme, Horizon Europe, to enhance the performance of EU’s research spending and achieve a better impact on the ground.”
The Commissioner-designated thanked tweeted right afterwards:
“It is an honor to accept the nomination for Bulgarian Commissioner. I thank the President for giving me the chance to advocate for the future of the EU by entrusting me with the role of Commissioner.” Before being officially in office, Ivanova will need to go through a parliamentary vetting process, meaning that she will be quizzed by the competent parliamentary committee: CULT (Culture and Education) and ITRE (Industry and Research).
Culture Action Europe wishes Iliana Ivanova good luck in her new endeavor. We look forward to collaborating with her in her new capacity as Commissioner responsible for Culture.
